On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Custody on Monday, November 14, 2016.

Unfortunately, not all divorces proceed smoothly. One of the most common areas of contention between parents is child custody. While California courts always urge parents to work out child custody arrangements and parenting plans themselves, sometimes litigation becomes the only option remaining.

No one wants to go to court to determine how their children should be parented, but it is an unfortunate reality in California. As family law attorneys, we have seen even the most amicable parent-to-parent relationship dissolve into chaos. If you and your co-parent cannot reach an agreement regarding child custody, we would like to offer a few tips to help you prepare for a potential courtroom battle.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Support on Tuesday, November 1, 2016.

As a long-standing family law firm serving Livermore and Bay Area families, we have watched many parents struggle with child support issues. Most of the time, both parents want to do right by their children, but feelings of inequity or financial betrayal may muddy the waters. When this happens, the spirit of mutual cooperation crumbles, leaving parents bewildered and children hurt.

In our practice, we have seen how divorcing parents lose sight of the mission behind the child support system: Both parents contributing to the care and financial well-being of the children. Two scenarios in which the system has failed are discussed below.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Divorce on Thursday, October 20, 2016.

Maybe you filed for divorce as an emotional response to something that you've now worked through with your spouse, and you'd like to stay married. Maybe there have been other significant life changes that make it appear your marriage isn't going to end after all. Once the paperwork is in, can you stop it, or are you stuck having to move forward with a divorce you no longer want?

You can definitely ask to have your divorce petition dismissed by the court. You'll need to file a motion to dismiss with the court where you initially filed for your divorce. This motion will then have to be granted by the court before the paperwork is taken off the books.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Custody on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

You may not feel like agreeing with your ex about anything after a divorce. However, when it comes to child custody and parenting plans, it is easiest if you both agree on how things are going to be done. The children will behave better if they have the same rules everywhere.

For example, it's dangerous for one parent to always be strict and for the other parent to be the "fun" one. A father who only sees his kids on the weekends may be focused only on making sure that they like him, for instance. He won't make them do homework, he'll let them watch TV and eat as many snacks as they want, he won't have a bedtime for them, and they'll basically be free to do what they desire. The kids, of course, will love this.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Divorce on Thursday, September 22, 2016.

It can be hard to move forward after a divorce, even if you know that the divorce was smart and the best decision for all involved. These tips can help you move on and perhaps even reinvent yourself a bit as you step into this next stage in your life.

First, don't be afraid to mourn the loss of the marriage. There's nothing wrong with that. It doesn't mean you made a mistake. It just means a big part of your life has ended, and mourning is a natural step for most people so that they can move on to the next part.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Custody on Sunday, September 4, 2016.

The kids are heading back to school, and it's never been so clear how your children have grown up and changed over the years. For some, it's a transition between elementary and middle school, or between middle school and high school. For others, it's just a new year with new opportunities and experiences.

As these changes manifest themselves, you may find that your parenting plan no longer fits. Since the plan is supposed to have the child's best interests in mind, it may be worth addressing.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Support on Tuesday, August 23, 2016.

You cannot pay child support in California just by giving your ex cash and telling him or her that it's for a support payment. The law says that everyone in the state who is paying support actually needs to send it to the State Disbursement Unit first, and then it is sent out to those who are to receive it. This makes payments easier to track and verify.

There are three main options that you can use if you're getting payments, with the first being a bank check that is simply mailed to you. This is easy, it doesn't rely on technology, and it's perhaps the simplest way for many people to get their money. You do have to cash the check before it can be spent, though, and some banks having waiting periods before a check will clear.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Divorce on Tuesday, August 9, 2016.

There are advantages to regular alimony payments, such as the fact that they keep you from spending the money too quickly and they provide you with a stable, predictable income for as long as you get them. If you're being paid $3,000 per month, for instance, you can set up your budget to reflect that income level and create a lifestyle that fits your means.

However, there are some big advantages to taking a lump sum payment up front. It's definitely something you at least want to consider when trying to get alimony in California. Instead of getting $3,000 per month for ten years, for example, you may be able to ask for $360,000 up front.

On behalf of Family Law Group, LLP posted in Child Custody on Thursday, July 28, 2016.

A child custody case has grown very complicated, and now the Yolo County DA has asked for an arrest warrant. On August 2, a hearing will be held to decide if that warrant will be granted or not.

The basis of the case is this: A woman had full custody of her children. She had split up with their father and alleged that domestic violence had taken place. That father was allowed to visit the kids, but the visits had to be supervised.

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